Gov. Perdue Presents Lawmakers with Pathway to Protecting Education, Core Services within a Balanced Budget
In a letter to lawmakers this week, Gov. Bev Perdue provided a pathway to a balanced budget that protects education and other core services. The pathway also calls upon budget writers to make significant cuts, to increase revenue through specific revenue increases and to take steps to modernize North Carolina's tax code, including permanent reductions to sales, income and business tax rates.
Gov. Perdue outlined the four key principles she believes are vital to a balanced and responsible budget. The pathway incorporates aspects of existing proposals, including some from her own budget and from the House and Senate.
"We must remember that the decisions we make today are not about our political future, they are about our children's future," she said.
The letter, sent to every Senate and House member, detailed these principles:
- Protection of education and core public safety and health care services
- Fairness to working families
- Modernization of the tax code with permanent rate reduction
- Targeted tax relief
Click here to read the complete letter and pathway to protect public education.
Gov. Perdue Signs Executive Orders to Increase Transparency in State Government
Gov. Bev Perdue this week signed Executive Orders 17 and 18 to bring greater transparency and accountability to state government.
"These executive orders further expand on two hallmarks of my administration - transparency and accountability," said Perdue. "Only when the doors of government are open wide, and the sun truly shines in, can we be sure that our government by the people is working for the people."
Executive Order 18 declares that executive branch emails sent to and from state government accounts will be retained and archived as public records for 10 years. Executive branch employees must keep all emails they send for at least 24 hours so that those emails can be copied to backup tapes. Emails received must also be kept for 24 hours unless the email is clearly not related to state business. The order also directs ITS to develop a new email archiving system and make it available to all executive branch agencies for which it provides email services as soon as practicable. Until the new archiving system is developed, ITS will continue to keep backup tapes of emails sent to and from state government accounts. The Governor has invited all parts of state government over which she does not have direct control, including the legislative and judicial branches, to participate in this program.
Executive Order 17 directs the Department of Commerce to obtain and report the names of consultants involved in economic development projects that seek benefits from the state's incentive programs. Information on consulting relationships will be provided to the Secretary of Commerce, the Economic Investment Committee, and the Governor to better assist them in making conflict of interest assessments and will be retained as part of each project's file.
Hoke County Gets New Manufacturer, 40 Jobs
Alpla Inc., a global supplier of plastic packaging, is opening a new manufacturing facility in Raeford. The company plans to invest $7.2 million and create 40 jobs during the next three years. The announcement was made possible in part by a $120,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund.
Alpla Inc., based in Austria and with operations in North America, South America, Europe and Asia, provides bottles, caps and other plastic packaging products to clients globally. Alpla recently posted annual sales of more than $3.2 billion, with more than 10,000 employees worldwide and production facilities in 34 countries. The company, with its U.S. headquarters in Georgia, lists Unilever, Coca-Cola, Proctor & Gamble and Clorox among its clients.
Alpla plans to open a new manufacturing facility, its first in North Carolina, on the Raeford campus of one its major clients, Unilever Corp. The company will manufacture plastic bottles for shampoo, conditioners and body wash products. The 40 new jobs will pay an average annual wage of $32,450, not including benefits. That is higher than the Hoke County average annual wage of $22,724.
North Carolina continues to have a top-ranked business climate. Through Gov. Perdue's JobsNOW initiative, the state will work aggressively to create jobs, train and retrain our workforce, and lay the foundation for a strong and sustainable economic future.
For more information about Alpla Inc., including employment opportunities, visit www.alpla.com .
Caldwell County Biomedical Company to Add 20 Jobs
Adhezion Biomedical LLC, a global provider of surgical adhesives, wound-care dressings and infection-prevention sealants, will expand in Hudson. The company plans to invest $750,000 and create 20 new jobs during the next three years. The announcement was made possible in part by a $40,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund.
Adhezion Biomedical, headquartered in Pennsylvania, has one manufacturing, research and development facility, located in Hudson, where seven workers are employed.
For more information about Adhezion Biomedical, including employment opportunities, visit: www.adhezion.com .
Governor's schedule for the coming week
Monday, July 13
- Office Time
- Recovery Meeting
Tuesday, July 14
- Senior Staff Meeting
- Cabinet Meeting
- School Administrators Leadership Virtual Conference
- Youth Advocacy Council Reception
- Office Time
Wednesday, July 15
- Senior Staff Meeting
- Office Time
Thursday, July 16
- Senior Staff Meeting
- Office Time
Friday, July 17
- Office Time